SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In the middle game of a three-game set, Santa Clara baseball lost to Saint Mary's by a final score of 16-2. The Broncos are now 10-30 overall and 0-17 in conference while the Gaels are 16-26 and 7-7 in WCC action.
The Broncos return to the field tomorrow, Sun., April 28 at Saint Mary's at 1 p.m.
Mike Couch (3-7, 4.56) started for Santa Clara and got a loss in 2.1 innings. Couch allowed seven runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts. The offense was led by Zach Looney who was 2-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Justin Viele was 2-5 while Casey Munoz was 1-3 with a run scored and a RBI.
Jordan Mills (4-3, 2.23) started for Saint Mary's and got a win in 5.2 innings. Mills allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts. The offense was led by Shawn O'Brien who was 3-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. DonAndre Clark was 2-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base while Brenden Kalfus was 3-5 with a walk, a RBI and two runs scored.
With one out in the bottom of the second and two on, Darian Ramage and Riley Heinzer hit back-to-back triples for Saint Mary's to give the Gaels the early 3-0 lead. Ricky Boas followed with a sac fly to center to bring in the fourth run of the inning.
Kalfus singled to center with one down in the bottom of the third and Anthony Villa followed with a double down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position. O'Brien knocked in a run with a single and Collin Ferguson followed with a RBI single to put runners on the corners. Ramage was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Heinzer singled to center to bring in two more runs and make the score 7-0 Gaels. Couch was lifted for Kenny Treadwell who got a double play to end the inning.
Saint Mary's put up another run in the bottom of the third and then a four-spot in the bottom of the fifth. Nance came in to start the bottom of the fifth and got the first two outs easily. Boas singled through the right side and Clark followed with a single of his own. A wild pitch moved both runners up and Markus Melgosa smoked a double to left center for two RBI. Kalfus walked and moved to third on a RBI single to center by Villa. O'Brien hit an infield single to bring in another run and make the score 12-0.
Santa Clara got on the board with two in the top of the sixth. Looney doubled to center leading off the sixth and stole third with one down. Munoz reached on an error by the first baseman that allowed the first Santa Clara run to come across. Mac Hess collected his first career hit to put runners on the corners. Hess stole his first career base with two down and an error by the catcher allowed Munoz to score.
The Gaels would add an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth and kept the offense going in the bottom of the eighth. Cole Norton blasted a two-run homer to right center with one out off of Peter Hendron. Boas followed with a single to center and moved to second on a passed ball. After the second out was recorded, Trevor Ellison walked and Kalfus singled to load the bases. Villa singled through the left side to bring in another run.
The game ended with the Broncos going down 1-2-3 in the ninth.